Tulsa County Gives $500K to Muscogee Nation For COVID-19 Treatment

Tulsa County is giving some of its COVID-19 relief money to the Muscogee Nation. 

Tulsa County received about $126.5 million from the American Rescue Plan. On Wednesday, Tulsa County Commissioners announced they are giving $500,000 of that to the Muscogee Nation. The money will help with operational costs associated with the tribe's monoclonal antibody treatment center.

"If detected between 1 and 10 days, [patients] get this treatment, and there's an 85% chance [patients] stay out of the hospital. That's tremendous for our healthcare workers in the hospital, " said Tulsa County Commissioner Stan Sallee.

Monoclonal antibody infusions are happening at the old Cancer Treatment Centers of America building near 81st and Mingo. The Muscogee Nation officially took it over in September and have since renamed it the Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare Center. So far, the center's given more than 800 infusions.

Shawn Terry, the Muscogee Nation's Secretary of Health, said a CEO at local hospital recently told him that since the infusion center opened, it's seen a decline in COVID hospitalizations. "That was really what the goal of this whole project has been: to reduce the number of hospitalizations due to COVID in Tulsa, and we think that's really had an effect."

Appointments are required but are available to anyone. The Muscogee Nation said it will continue to operate the center as long as needed. "Anyone, despite their insurance, whatever race, whether Native or not, we're here to take care of you if you develop this virus," added Terry.